Psalms 91:9

For thou, Jehovah, art my refuge!

Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation.

So we must render. The A.V. is an attempt to escape from the difficulties of the verse, but it involves an intolerably harsh construction. As the text stands, the Psalmist begins the second division of the Psalm by repeating the profession of Psalms 91:2, and then, as before, addresses Israel as a whole, or the godly Israelite. Psalms 91:9 bis virtually a protasis; Ifor since thou hast made… there shall no evil befall thee.

Here too some critics would cut the knot of the change of persons by emending, Because thou hast said, Jehovah is my refuge, and hast made the Most High thy habitation; or, For as for thee, Jehovah is thy refuge. But the change is unnecessary. The word for habitationis the same as that rendered dwelling-placein Psalms 90:1. The rendering of the P.B.V., "thou hast set thine house of defence very high," is probably a misunderstanding of the Vulg. altissimum posuisti refugium tuum, which, as the LXX, τὸν ὕψιστον ἔθου καταφυγήν σου, shews, means, Thou hast made the Most High thy refuge. It is supported by the Targum (see note [52] p. 554), but in view of the use of -Most High" in Psalms 91:1 and Psalms 92:1 can hardly be right.

[52] The Targum recognises the idea of a plurality of speakers, explaining the Ps. as a dialogue between David and Solomon. Psalms 91:2, "David said, -I will say to Jehovah," &c. -For He shall deliver thee, Solomon my son," &c." Psalms 91:9, "Solomon answered and said thus, -For thou Jehovah art my refuge, in a lofty dwelling hast Thou placed the abode of Thy Majesty" (Shechinah)." Psalms 91:10, "The Lord of the world answered and said thus, -There shall no evil befall thee," &c."